Emergency Preparedness

Kern Medical Bioterrorism Response Guide Section 2-C-1 – Smallpox

SMALLPOX (VARIOLA) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ISOLATION

Introduction Smallpox is a viral disease unique to humans. To sus tain itself, the virus must pass from person to person in a continuing chain of infection. Smallpox (variola) was eradicated globally in the late 1970's and routine vaccination was discontinued worldwide following a declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the world was free of smallpox in 1980. Today there is concern that the smallpox virus may exist in laboratories other that those designated by WHO. If an outbreak of smallpox were to occur today several factors would contribute to the rapid transmission of this infection. These factors include: (1) virtual global population susceptibility, (2) inability of health care workers to immediately recognize and report symptoms associated with infection, and (3) increased population mobility and crowding. Because of these factors a single case of smallpox would require an immediate and coordinated public health and Any suspected or confirmed case of smallpox MUST BE TREATED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY and reported to the infection control practitioner [ insert telephone number ] and the local health department [insert telephone number] immediately. Patients with smallpox may be viremic, so that blood should be considered potentially infectious for smallpox. Healthcare workers should follow facility specific procedures related to reducing the risk of occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials as required by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (CAL-OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Training Healthcare workers expected to provide direct and indirect patient care should be specifically trained in methods to reduce the risk of exposure to patients infected with smallpox. Vaccination Health care workers should be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health care workers should be instructed to report any symptoms of infection or vaccination reaction to the Employee Health Service. medical response to contain the outbreak. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

6